July 15 – Ontario Conservatives are really trying to have their cake and eat it too when it comes to ‘eco-fees’ and waste diversion:
- Campaigning on behalf of John Tory in 2007, Hudak listed the “creation of Waste Diversion Ontario” as part of the “PC party’s legacy of environmental protection.” (Media Release: April 18th 2007)
- Speaking to municipal leaders at the August 2009 AMO conference, Hudak called waste diversion one of “the most important public policy issues facing Ontario.” (Remarks: August 18th 2009)
- In June 2010, the PC Caucus used their Earth Day news release by Environment Critic Toby Barrett to call on the Government “to deliver on diversion targets.” (Media Release: June 3rd 2010)
Tim Hudak, as a member of the Harris/Eves Cabinet, helped to create an arm’s length process through which eco-fees could be charged and used to pay for the safe disposal of certain hazardous materials. None of the fees collected end up as part of government revenue.
Now, in trying to score cheap political points, Tim Hudak and the Conservatives have turned their backs on a waste diversion program they helped to create and are prepared to threaten public heath by tossing hazardous wastes into municipal landfills.